What roof replacement covers
A full roof replacement means stripping the existing shingles, felt, or membrane down to the deck, checking that deck for rot or soft spots, replacing damaged plywood, installing new underlayment and ice-and-water shield, and putting on new roofing material with flashing around chimneys, vents, and valleys. It's a different job from a repair, which patches a leak or a section of damage, and different from a re-roof or "layover," where new shingles go on top of old ones without stripping the deck. New Britain's mix of older housing stock and Connecticut's freeze-thaw winters means deck damage and ice-dam issues turn up more often here than in newer construction, so a contractor who actually inspects the deck before quoting matters more than the marketing brochure.
What to look for before you sign
Get a written estimate that breaks out tear-off, deck repair (with a per-sheet price if rot is found), underlayment type, shingle or material brand and warranty, flashing work, and cleanup. Ask for proof of Connecticut contractor registration and liability insurance, and get the manufacturer warranty terms in writing, not just verbal assurance. A legitimate crew will pull a permit for a full replacement. Be wary of anyone pushing a same-day signature or a price that's dramatically lower than two or three other quotes for the same scope of work.
How we score the 20 contractors
Our ranking weighs the factors above alongside licensing status, review patterns over time, and how consistently a company follows through on warranty and cleanup issues rather than just the initial sale. See the full breakdown and reasoning in our methodology, or jump straight to the ranked guide to New Britain roofing contractors to see how each one stacks up.
